Matthew 28:11-15 is a fascinating passage that provides a unique glimpse into the political and religious tensions surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This section of the Gospel of Matthew occurs immediately after the women discover the empty tomb and encounter the risen Jesus. As they are on their way to inform the disciples, the narrative shifts to the guards who had been stationed at the tomb.
The passage reads as follows (NIV):
"While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, 'You are to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep." If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.' So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day."
This passage is significant for several reasons. First, it highlights the immediate reaction of the religious authorities to the news of the resurrection. The guards, who were likely Roman soldiers, went to the chief priests to report the miraculous events they had witnessed. This indicates that the resurrection was not a mere rumor but an event that compelled even those who were not followers of Jesus to seek out the Jewish leaders for guidance.
The chief priests and elders' response is telling. They did not investigate the truth of the guards' report or consider the possibility that Jesus had indeed risen. Instead, they immediately devised a plan to suppress the truth. This reaction underscores their ongoing resistance to Jesus' ministry and their determination to maintain their authority and control over the people.
The plan they devised involved bribing the soldiers with a "large sum of money" to spread a false story—that Jesus' disciples had stolen His body while the guards were asleep. This lie was intended to explain away the empty tomb and discredit the resurrection. The chief priests even promised to protect the soldiers from any repercussions that might arise from their supposed dereliction of duty.
This passage also sheds light on the broader social and political context of the time. The chief priests' willingness to bribe the soldiers and cover up the truth indicates the lengths to which they were willing to go to preserve their power. Their promise to "satisfy" the governor if the false report reached him suggests that they had significant influence and were confident in their ability to manipulate the political system to their advantage.
Furthermore, the fact that this false story "has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day" (as of the time Matthew was writing) indicates the enduring impact of this deception. It suggests that the chief priests' efforts to suppress the truth of the resurrection were at least partially successful in sowing doubt and confusion among the people.
From a theological perspective, this passage serves as a powerful reminder of the reality of spiritual opposition to the truth of the Gospel. The chief priests and elders' actions can be seen as representative of the broader human tendency to resist God's revelation and cling to worldly power and control. Their deception stands in stark contrast to the faith and obedience of the women who first encountered the risen Jesus and the disciples who would soon be commissioned to spread the Good News.
In the broader narrative of the Gospel of Matthew, this passage also sets the stage for the Great Commission that follows in verses 16-20. The contrast between the chief priests' deceit and the disciples' mission to spread the truth of the resurrection underscores the transformative power of the Gospel. Despite the efforts of the religious authorities to suppress it, the truth of Jesus' resurrection would ultimately prevail and spread throughout the world.
In conclusion, Matthew 28:11-15 provides a compelling account of the immediate aftermath of the resurrection from the perspective of the guards and the chief priests. It highlights the religious authorities' resistance to the truth, their willingness to deceive and manipulate to maintain their power, and the enduring impact of their false narrative. This passage serves as a poignant reminder of the reality of spiritual opposition and the transformative power of the Gospel.
